Vanishing Point: North Florida's Disappearing Waters
Lake Area Water Alliance
Monday, August 13, 2012
Vanishing Point: North Florida's Disappearing Waters
Vanishing Point is a photographic documentary on the ongoing degradation of lakes and streams around north central Florida. The project contains images from the winter of 2011 through June 2012 and concludes with a call to action to help save these waters from over-consumption and nutrient contamination.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Water News for July, 2012
We must change
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120701/OPINION/120629632?Title=We-must-change-if-we-are-to-save-water-supply
Water Quality War Rages On
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120703/ARTICLES/120709869?tc=cr
Recent Rains not enough
http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-07-05/story/recent-rain-tropical-storms-not-enough-keystone-lakes#1
On Sinkholes, Deniers and Speaking Out (Kudos to Ron Littlepage)
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2012-07-04/sinkholes-deniers-and-speaking-out
Conservation Lands are a Big Bargain
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2012-07-03/story/point-view-conservation-lands-are-big-bargain
Water Democracy
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-03/news/os-florida-water-democracy-20120703_1_water-supply-water-issues-water-watchers
[Too many articles in here to post]
http://stateofwater.org/
Is Florida a Good Steward of Water?
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-06/news/os-ed-front-burner-water-quality-intro-070612-20120705_1_water-pollution-rules-environmental-groups-florida-waterways
State hasn't done enough to avert water crisis
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-06/news/os-ed-front-burner-water-quality-con-070612-20120705_1_waterways-water-resources-water-quality-and-supply
Another temporary "Pumps Off"?
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120706/ARTICLES/120709745/1183?Title=Phosphate-facility-in-White-Springs-remains-closed-after-flood-during-Debby
A Florida Asset
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120707/OPINION01/120709841/1017?Title=Editorial-A-Florida-asset1
More Mega Projects Turning to Private Sector
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120707/WIRE/120709793/1454?Title=More-mega-projects-turning-to-private-investors
Purchase of land aims to protect Glades
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-13/news/os-everglades-conservation-announced-20120713_1_everglades-headwaters-everglades-national-park-development-rights
Selling Public Lands
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120716/OPINION03/120719930
Water Permits in Profile - Adena Springs
http://stateofwater.org/politics/water-permits-in-profile-the-adena-springs-controversy/
Agriculture vs Water: Bottling the Consumptive Question
http://stateofwater.org/you/agriculture-vs-water-bottling-the-consumptive-question/
Don't gamble on springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-22/opinion/os-ed-adena-springs-proposal-072212-20120720_1_silver-springs-water-resources-groundwater
Troubled Springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-22/news/os-ed-silver-springs-protect-072212-20120720_1_silver-springs-salt-springs-freshwater-springs
Herschel Vinyard - Cooperation is the key
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-20/opinion/os-ed-springs-health-myword-072012-20120719_1_water-bodies-water-management-districts-water-resources
United for Water
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120729/OPINION/120729718
Taking a Dive: Exploring Stressed Springs
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120729/OPINION/120729721
Anti – sand mining campaign ramps up.
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2082:anti-sand-mining-campaign-ramps-up&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
My Word: Ranch permit won’t hurt springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-26/opinion/os-ed-adena-ranch-springs-myword-072612-20120725_1_water-resources-silver-springs-minimum-flows
Coalition presents 15000 signatures
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28617541
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120701/OPINION/120629632?Title=We-must-change-if-we-are-to-save-water-supply
Water Quality War Rages On
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120703/ARTICLES/120709869?tc=cr
Recent Rains not enough
http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-07-05/story/recent-rain-tropical-storms-not-enough-keystone-lakes#1
On Sinkholes, Deniers and Speaking Out (Kudos to Ron Littlepage)
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2012-07-04/sinkholes-deniers-and-speaking-out
Conservation Lands are a Big Bargain
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2012-07-03/story/point-view-conservation-lands-are-big-bargain
Water Democracy
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-03/news/os-florida-water-democracy-20120703_1_water-supply-water-issues-water-watchers
[Too many articles in here to post]
http://stateofwater.org/
Is Florida a Good Steward of Water?
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-06/news/os-ed-front-burner-water-quality-intro-070612-20120705_1_water-pollution-rules-environmental-groups-florida-waterways
State hasn't done enough to avert water crisis
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-06/news/os-ed-front-burner-water-quality-con-070612-20120705_1_waterways-water-resources-water-quality-and-supply
Another temporary "Pumps Off"?
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120706/ARTICLES/120709745/1183?Title=Phosphate-facility-in-White-Springs-remains-closed-after-flood-during-Debby
A Florida Asset
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120707/OPINION01/120709841/1017?Title=Editorial-A-Florida-asset1
More Mega Projects Turning to Private Sector
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120707/WIRE/120709793/1454?Title=More-mega-projects-turning-to-private-investors
Will Florida Save the Springs or
Let them Die
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-08/opinion/os-ed-vanishing-florida-springs-070812-20120706_1_wekiwa-springs-nutrient-pollution-environmental-groups
Roads in Columbia County where the Old Ichetucknee once ran
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8929
Silver Springs vs Adena Springs
http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-07-09/story/silver-springs-vs-adena-springs-ranch-spurs-new-water-war
SRWMD Groundwater Levels Rebound
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8950
Finding Our Voice on the Water Crisis
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120712/OPINION01/120719916
Listen to High Springs
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120712/OPINION01/120719877
No “made up” science in Adena Springs water wars
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120715/COLUMNISTS/120719840/0/FRONTPAGE
Whitey Markle – free the Ocklawaha
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120715/OPINION/120719860
Silver Springs is a symbol of deeper issues
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2012-07-15/story/lead-letter-silver-springs-symbol-deeper-issuesPurchase of land aims to protect Glades
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-13/news/os-everglades-conservation-announced-20120713_1_everglades-headwaters-everglades-national-park-development-rights
State Targets Nitrate Levels
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120717/ARTICLES/120719740?tc=crSelling Public Lands
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120716/OPINION03/120719930
Water Permits in Profile - Adena Springs
http://stateofwater.org/politics/water-permits-in-profile-the-adena-springs-controversy/
Agriculture vs Water: Bottling the Consumptive Question
http://stateofwater.org/you/agriculture-vs-water-bottling-the-consumptive-question/
Fountains of Life
http://stateofwater.org/ecosystems/springs/
Freeing the Ocklawaha neither free
nor beneficial
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120722/OPINION/120729968
Florida Environmental group sues
over algae blooms
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120723/WIRE/120729879
Is anybody listening?
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120722/OPINION/120729971Don't gamble on springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-22/opinion/os-ed-adena-springs-proposal-072212-20120720_1_silver-springs-water-resources-groundwater
Troubled Springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-22/news/os-ed-silver-springs-protect-072212-20120720_1_silver-springs-salt-springs-freshwater-springs
Herschel Vinyard - Cooperation is the key
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-20/opinion/os-ed-springs-health-myword-072012-20120719_1_water-bodies-water-management-districts-water-resources
Adena Springs Ranch in the
Court of Public Opinion
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120728/OPINION/120729615United for Water
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120729/OPINION/120729718
Taking a Dive: Exploring Stressed Springs
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120729/OPINION/120729721
Anti – sand mining campaign ramps up.
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2082:anti-sand-mining-campaign-ramps-up&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
My Word: Ranch permit won’t hurt springs
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-26/opinion/os-ed-adena-ranch-springs-myword-072612-20120725_1_water-resources-silver-springs-minimum-flows
Coalition presents 15000 signatures
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28617541
Water News for June, 2012
Water at Heart of Ranch Debate, (Ocala.com, June 1, 2012)
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120601/ARTICLES/120609949
Judge Upholds DEP Water Rules
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120607/WIRE/120609724/1002/NEWS?Title=Administrative-judge-upholds-Florida-water-rules
Loving Our State to Death
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120607/COLUMNISTS/120609727
Letters to the editor 06-04-12
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120604/OPINION02/120609909
Adena More than Economics
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120603/OPINION/120609945
Water Rally a Call to Action
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120603/OPINION/120609944
Alarmists Needed: Water Pumping Request is Tip of the Iceberg
http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/alarmists-needed-water-pumping-request-%E2%80%98tip-iceberg%E2%80%99
A Water Report Card: Legacy - F
http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/watery-report-card-legacy-%E2%80%94-f
Barbara A. Purdy: Our water is our heritage (Gainesville Sun, June 6, 2012)
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120606/OPINION03/120609791
Webb Farber: 'New' water needed
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120606/OPINION02/120609815
Governor praises DEP Secretcary Herschel Vinyard amid controverises, criticism, (The Florida Current, May 31, 2012)
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=27904799
High Water Rates in Mount Plymouth
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Colleen-Fairways@MtPlymouth.pdf
Governor approves Study Committee on Investor-Owned Water and Wastewater Utility Systems
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Study-Committee-on-Investor-Owned-Water-and-Wastewater-Utility-Systems-Function-and-Background.pdf
How Water Prices Increased After 10 of the Largest Water System Sales
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FWW_Selling-Out-Consumers-How-Water-Prices-Increased-After-10-of-the-Largest-Water-Systems-Sales_June-2011.pdf
Fact Sheet - Distribution System Improvement Charge: A rip-off for consumers
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Fact-Sheet_The-Distribution-System-Improvement-Charge_A-rip-off-for-consumers_October-2010.pdf
Aqua America in Florida
http://www.americanwaterintel.com/archive/3/3/three-questions/will-aqua-america-sell-or-swap-out-its-assets-florida.html
More concerns aired at Ag water policy meeting
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120608/ARTICLES/120609685
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120608/ARTICLES/120609621
Low water flow woes
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120609/ARTICLES/120609598?tc=cr
Access to public lands
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120610/OPINION01/120609635
Letters to the editor 06-10-12
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120610/OPINION02/120609634
Low Tide on the Santa Fe
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120611/OPINION03/120609657?Title=Lars-Andersen-8216-Low-tide-on-the-Santa-Fe-River
DEP is Blind to State's Green Slime
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120611/OPINION03/120609658?Title=David-Guest-The-DEP-is-blind-to-state-s-8216-green-slime-
SRWMD limits take effect tomorrow
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2012/06/12/news/doc4fd6b18129d05327009643.txt
FLOW demands answers
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8816
Letter to the Editor
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/120619951?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-for-June-12-2012
New director will have tough job
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2012/06/13/news/doc4fd8054691d0e254279001.txt
Ann Shortelle New Director
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8821
Silver Springs may become State Park
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120612/ARTICLES/120619901?tc=cr
The second half of this article is about PCS Phosphate's 84 mgd CUP
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28072030
Ann Shortelle - $32,000/year annual increase
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28071295
June 23 Water Workshop in Ocala
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120613/ARTICLES/120619876
Letters to the Editor
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120614/OPINION02/120619837?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-for-June-14-2012
Environmental land Bank Controversy in Clay County
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-09/business/os-lucrative-land-deal-controversy-20120609_1_connie-bersok-wetlands-mitigation-credits
Getting the Water Right
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120617/OPINION/120619797
Dollars, Sense and Drought
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120618/OPINION03/120619820
Adam Putnam - We Don't Need the EPA
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120617/OPINION03/120619823
Potato Chips or Future Lawns - Thank you Jill
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-18/business/os-water-war-spuds-vs-lawns-20120618_1_taylor-creek-reservoir-floridan-aquifer-water-wars
That Giant Sucking Sound
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/ron-littlepage/2012-06-13/former-presidential-candidate-could-have-been-talking
Cedar Key salt water intrusion
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120619/ARTICLES/120619681/1455?Title=Salt-water-intrusion-plagues-Cedar-Key-tap-water
Making Silver Springs a state park
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120620/OPINION01/120619680
The tarnished jewel
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/OPINION/120619554?Title=Editorial-Tarnished-jewel
Undoing the water work of 25 million years
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/OPINION03/120619577
Water War pits Silver Springs against cattle Part 2
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-19/business/os-water-wars-beef-vs-springs-20120619_1_floridan-aquifer-karen-ahlers-water-district
More on Cedar Key salt water intrusion
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/ARTICLES/120629937?tc=cr
Come to Silver Springs on Saturday
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120621/OPINION03/120629998
Georgia's most polluted river
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-06-21/story/paddle-georgia-looks-pulp-mill-pollution-altamaha
Bob Graham asks Scott for leadership on springs
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28185329
Vinyards Response to Graham
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28202229
Baker County delays decision on sand mines
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2023:commissioners-put-off-decision-on-sand-mines&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
Macclenny to spray sewer sludge
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2024:city-to-purchase-tract-to-spray-sewer-sludge&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
Grants for wildlife and spring protection
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8849
Where's the will?
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120622/OPINION/120629917
Salty Cedar Key
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120622/OPINION01/120629904
Water Forum draws hundreds
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120623/ARTICLES/120629856?tc=cr
Protecting the idea of Florida
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/COLUMNISTS/120629859?Title=Protecting-the-idea-of-Florida
This is not the first fight to save Silver Springs
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/OPINION/120629875/0/FRONTPAGE
Vinyard - To get the water right we must get the science right
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/OPINION/120629876
Drought remains but rain has helped
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120624/ARTICLES/120629793?tc=cr
Mighty spring faces murky future
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-24/features/os-joy-wallace-dickinson-0624-20120624_1_glass-bottom-boats-hullam-jones-water-request
Indifference to a saline crisis
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120626/OPINION01/120629787?Title=Editorial-Indifference-to-a-saline-crisis
Our hearts are deeper than their pockets
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8854
It ain't over
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120626/OPINION01/120629730
40 year old law to protect springs and rivers goes unheeded
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28216157
US Supreme Court refuses to hear tri-state water dispute
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28244799
US Supreme Court stays out of water war
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-06-25/story/us-supreme-court-declines-get-georgias-water-war-florida-and-alabama
T.S. Debby a Temporary Fix
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120630/ARTICLES/120639968?tc=cr
Feast or Famine
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120630/OPINION01/120639987
Surplus Water
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120629/OPINION01/120629549
Sampson Lake residents want motor boats banned
http://starkejournal.com/2012/06/27/sampson-lake-residents-fight-flood-waters-boats-with-motors-banned/
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120601/ARTICLES/120609949
Judge Upholds DEP Water Rules
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120607/WIRE/120609724/1002/NEWS?Title=Administrative-judge-upholds-Florida-water-rules
Loving Our State to Death
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120607/COLUMNISTS/120609727
Letters to the editor 06-04-12
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120604/OPINION02/120609909
Adena More than Economics
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120603/OPINION/120609945
Water Rally a Call to Action
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120603/OPINION/120609944
Alarmists Needed: Water Pumping Request is Tip of the Iceberg
http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/alarmists-needed-water-pumping-request-%E2%80%98tip-iceberg%E2%80%99
A Water Report Card: Legacy - F
http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/watery-report-card-legacy-%E2%80%94-f
Barbara A. Purdy: Our water is our heritage (Gainesville Sun, June 6, 2012)
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120606/OPINION03/120609791
Webb Farber: 'New' water needed
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120606/OPINION02/120609815
Governor praises DEP Secretcary Herschel Vinyard amid controverises, criticism, (The Florida Current, May 31, 2012)
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=27904799
High Water Rates in Mount Plymouth
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Colleen-Fairways@MtPlymouth.pdf
Governor approves Study Committee on Investor-Owned Water and Wastewater Utility Systems
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Study-Committee-on-Investor-Owned-Water-and-Wastewater-Utility-Systems-Function-and-Background.pdf
How Water Prices Increased After 10 of the Largest Water System Sales
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FWW_Selling-Out-Consumers-How-Water-Prices-Increased-After-10-of-the-Largest-Water-Systems-Sales_June-2011.pdf
Fact Sheet - Distribution System Improvement Charge: A rip-off for consumers
http://www.flowflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Fact-Sheet_The-Distribution-System-Improvement-Charge_A-rip-off-for-consumers_October-2010.pdf
Aqua America in Florida
http://www.americanwaterintel.com/archive/3/3/three-questions/will-aqua-america-sell-or-swap-out-its-assets-florida.html
More concerns aired at Ag water policy meeting
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120608/ARTICLES/120609685
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120608/ARTICLES/120609621
Low water flow woes
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120609/ARTICLES/120609598?tc=cr
Access to public lands
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120610/OPINION01/120609635
Letters to the editor 06-10-12
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120610/OPINION02/120609634
Low Tide on the Santa Fe
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120611/OPINION03/120609657?Title=Lars-Andersen-8216-Low-tide-on-the-Santa-Fe-River
DEP is Blind to State's Green Slime
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120611/OPINION03/120609658?Title=David-Guest-The-DEP-is-blind-to-state-s-8216-green-slime-
SRWMD limits take effect tomorrow
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2012/06/12/news/doc4fd6b18129d05327009643.txt
FLOW demands answers
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8816
Letter to the Editor
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/120619951?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-for-June-12-2012
New director will have tough job
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2012/06/13/news/doc4fd8054691d0e254279001.txt
Ann Shortelle New Director
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8821
Silver Springs may become State Park
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120612/ARTICLES/120619901?tc=cr
The second half of this article is about PCS Phosphate's 84 mgd CUP
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28072030
Ann Shortelle - $32,000/year annual increase
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28071295
June 23 Water Workshop in Ocala
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120613/ARTICLES/120619876
Letters to the Editor
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120614/OPINION02/120619837?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-for-June-14-2012
Environmental land Bank Controversy in Clay County
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-09/business/os-lucrative-land-deal-controversy-20120609_1_connie-bersok-wetlands-mitigation-credits
Getting the Water Right
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120617/OPINION/120619797
Dollars, Sense and Drought
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120618/OPINION03/120619820
Adam Putnam - We Don't Need the EPA
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120617/OPINION03/120619823
Potato Chips or Future Lawns - Thank you Jill
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-18/business/os-water-war-spuds-vs-lawns-20120618_1_taylor-creek-reservoir-floridan-aquifer-water-wars
That Giant Sucking Sound
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/ron-littlepage/2012-06-13/former-presidential-candidate-could-have-been-talking
Cedar Key salt water intrusion
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120619/ARTICLES/120619681/1455?Title=Salt-water-intrusion-plagues-Cedar-Key-tap-water
Making Silver Springs a state park
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120620/OPINION01/120619680
The tarnished jewel
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/OPINION/120619554?Title=Editorial-Tarnished-jewel
Undoing the water work of 25 million years
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/OPINION03/120619577
Water War pits Silver Springs against cattle Part 2
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-19/business/os-water-wars-beef-vs-springs-20120619_1_floridan-aquifer-karen-ahlers-water-district
More on Cedar Key salt water intrusion
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120620/ARTICLES/120629937?tc=cr
Come to Silver Springs on Saturday
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120621/OPINION03/120629998
Georgia's most polluted river
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-06-21/story/paddle-georgia-looks-pulp-mill-pollution-altamaha
Bob Graham asks Scott for leadership on springs
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28185329
Vinyards Response to Graham
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28202229
Baker County delays decision on sand mines
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2023:commissioners-put-off-decision-on-sand-mines&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
Macclenny to spray sewer sludge
http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2024:city-to-purchase-tract-to-spray-sewer-sludge&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
Grants for wildlife and spring protection
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8849
Where's the will?
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120622/OPINION/120629917
Salty Cedar Key
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120622/OPINION01/120629904
Water Forum draws hundreds
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120623/ARTICLES/120629856?tc=cr
Protecting the idea of Florida
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/COLUMNISTS/120629859?Title=Protecting-the-idea-of-Florida
This is not the first fight to save Silver Springs
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/OPINION/120629875/0/FRONTPAGE
Vinyard - To get the water right we must get the science right
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120624/OPINION/120629876
Drought remains but rain has helped
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120624/ARTICLES/120629793?tc=cr
Mighty spring faces murky future
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-24/features/os-joy-wallace-dickinson-0624-20120624_1_glass-bottom-boats-hullam-jones-water-request
Indifference to a saline crisis
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120626/OPINION01/120629787?Title=Editorial-Indifference-to-a-saline-crisis
Our hearts are deeper than their pockets
http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=8854
It ain't over
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120626/OPINION01/120629730
40 year old law to protect springs and rivers goes unheeded
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28216157
US Supreme Court refuses to hear tri-state water dispute
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=28244799
US Supreme Court stays out of water war
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-06-25/story/us-supreme-court-declines-get-georgias-water-war-florida-and-alabama
T.S. Debby a Temporary Fix
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120630/ARTICLES/120639968?tc=cr
Feast or Famine
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120630/OPINION01/120639987
Surplus Water
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120629/OPINION01/120629549
Sampson Lake residents want motor boats banned
http://starkejournal.com/2012/06/27/sampson-lake-residents-fight-flood-waters-boats-with-motors-banned/
Friday, June 1, 2012
Water News for May, 2012
North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership
Tallahassee — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to decide which Herschel Vinyard to believe – the one who claimed his expertise in handling pollution permits as his chief qualification to serve as Florida’s top environmental official or the one who is now alleging, through a state lawyer, he had nothing to do with permits. At stake is whether he will be barred from handling water pollution matters as the result of a federal conflict-of-interest complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Florida Clean Water Network.
The groups today released the latest correspondence from EPA questioning why information on Vinyard’s résumé and state job application, and even the Governor’s press release announcing his appointment as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), are all incorrect, as Vinyard now declares. The April 27, 2012 letter from EPA Regional Counsel Mary Wilkes asks Thomas Beason, the General Counsel for DEP, which Vinyard oversees, to “explain the apparent discrepancy between the assertion in your letter” that Vinyard was not really employed by the company he said he worked for in state filings or doing work he once bragged about but now disclaims.
The federal Clean Water Act forbids appointment of any state decision-maker on pollution discharge permits in federal water quality programs who “has during the previous two years received a significant portion of his income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for a permit” (emphasis added). Vinyard represented himself as director of operations for BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards where he was responsible for its wastewater permits and other regulatory affairs. He also chaired the Shipbuilders Council of America, representing 40 companies operating 100 shipyards.
“Secretary Vinyard should stop wasting state resources playing peek-a-boo with the EPA. His ploy that he is not in clear violation of federal law because he lied on his job application is just plain absurd,” stated Florida PEER Director Jerry Phillips, a former DEP enforcement attorney, noting that Governor Scott should fire him if he falsified his application. “By using state lawyers to dissemble on his behalf, Mr. Vinyard is only making a bad situation worse.”
The next move may aggravate the jeopardy for Secretary Vineyard, as making false official statements to a federal agency is a crime which could result in loss of office and imprisonment, sanctions far more serious than those he now faces. Unfortunately, EPA has not moved swiftly to resolve the February 2011 complaint, despite one promise last November to render a final decision “within two weeks.”
“Mr. Vinyard is making decisions that affect our waters every day, and most if not all of his decisions over the past 15 months have reflected a pro-polluter bias,” said Linda Young, Director of the Florida Clean Water Network. “As a regular user of our waters I am personally so unimpressed with our state and federal government’s level of concern over Vinyard’s disregard for the law that I think a citizens’ arrest is now in order.”
- Alachua County Not Represented (Gainesville Sun, May 10, 2012)
- Look Who's Deciding the Future of Your Water (Gainesville Sun, May 15, 2012)
- Time for enlightened discourse about water (Gainesville Sun, May 22, 2012)
- Florida needs a water ethic (Gainesville Sun, May 23, 2012)
- Commercial, lawn pumping drying up Florida's springs (Florida Times Union, May 20 2012)
- Our leaders ignore the disaster beneath our feet (www.ocala.com, May 2012)
- What will our elected officials do about our water? (Gainesville Sun, May 29, 2012)
- Recharging Our Lakes and Aquifers (Gainesville Sun, May 29. 2012)
- Further water restrictions coming for Suwannee district (Gainesville Sun, May 29, 2012)
- Tough rules not enough officials warn (Gainesville Sun, May 30, 2012)
- State of emergency (Gainesville Sun, May 31, 2012)
- Jacksonville to send water line under St Johns River (Florida Times Union, May 3 2012)
- Florida Crumbling (Gainesville Sun, May 16, 2012)
- Dry, empty caves offer grim proof of Tampa Bay's groundwater decline (Tampa Bay Times, May 20, 2012)
- Santa Fe River a Cesspool (www.LakeCityReporter.com, May 23, 2012)
- And Why the Fountain? (www.LakeCityReporter.com, May 22, 2012)
- Algae develops on drought-depleted Santa Fe River (Gainesville Sun, May 23, 2012)
- North Central Florida Rivers at Record Low Water Levels (www.alligator.org, May 24, 2012)
- Santa Fe Green (Gainesville Sun, May 25, 2012)
- Environmentalists serve notice on Florida paper mill (www.ocala.com, May 25, 2012)
- This isn't right (Gainesville Sun, May 26, 2012)
- Green Slime on the Santa Fe River (www.columbiacountyobserver.com, May 29, 2012)
- Thick green slime, dry rivers and dead springs bring a crowd to Poe Springs meeting with Our Santa Fe River (Lake City Journal, May 30, 2012)
- Preserving the Springs (www.seniortimesmagazine.com, May 2012)
- Silver Springs and Florida's Imperiled Waters (www.silverspringsalliance.org, May 2012)
- Water Protesters Greet Stronarch (www.ocala.com, May 15, 2012)
- A Line in the Sand (www.ocala.com, May 20, 2012)
- Do low-paying jobs and cattle trump a natural icon and water supply? (www.ocala.com, May 20, 2012)
- Silver Springs No Longer King (www.ocala.com, May 20 2012)
- Adena Ranch won't cause harm to springs or aquifer (Ed de la Parte, May 20, 2012)
- Florida Springs Are Dying (CNN iReport, May 20, 2012)
- Don't be silent about Florida's water crisis (Gainesville Sun, May 23, 2012)
- We Can't Drink Money (www.ocala.com, May 24, 2012)
- Scientific evidence of a water crisis abounds as Adena Springs case unfolds (www.ocala.com, May 27. 2012)
- Baker County LPA Okays Sand Mines (Baker County Press, May 3, 2012)
- Baker County Residents Okay with Sand Mines (Baker County Press, May 16, 2012)
- Petition to Investigate Violations (Florida PEER, Feb 23, 2011)
- Petition to Limit Water Grabs (www.signon.org, May 15, 2012)
- EPA Wants to Know if Herschel Vinyard, Secretary of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, Lied on His Resume (New Times, May 18, 2012)
- Will the Real Herschel Vinyard Please Stand Up? (The Bradenton Times, May 19. 2012)
- DEP Getting Water Right? (Gainesville Sun, May 20, 2012)
- Water under pressure (Gainesville Sun, May 27, 2012)
- Not a prayer (Gainesville Sun, May 27. 2012)
- Where is the EPA? (Gainesville Sun, May 29, 2012)
- Wetlands expert suspended by DEP after she refuses to approve permit (www.tampabay.com, May 28, 2012)
- Imagine, if you can, a state that actually protected the environment (www.tampabay.com, May 29, 2012)
- Groundwater Depletion in Semiarid Regions of Texas and California Threatens US Food Security (May 28, 2012)
EPA DEBARMENT PROBES DISCREPANCIES BY TOP FLORIDA OFFICIAL
Environment Secretary Vinyard’s Current Claims Contradict His Previous Filings
Environment Secretary Vinyard’s Current Claims Contradict His Previous Filings
Tallahassee — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to decide which Herschel Vinyard to believe – the one who claimed his expertise in handling pollution permits as his chief qualification to serve as Florida’s top environmental official or the one who is now alleging, through a state lawyer, he had nothing to do with permits. At stake is whether he will be barred from handling water pollution matters as the result of a federal conflict-of-interest complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Florida Clean Water Network.
The groups today released the latest correspondence from EPA questioning why information on Vinyard’s résumé and state job application, and even the Governor’s press release announcing his appointment as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), are all incorrect, as Vinyard now declares. The April 27, 2012 letter from EPA Regional Counsel Mary Wilkes asks Thomas Beason, the General Counsel for DEP, which Vinyard oversees, to “explain the apparent discrepancy between the assertion in your letter” that Vinyard was not really employed by the company he said he worked for in state filings or doing work he once bragged about but now disclaims.
The federal Clean Water Act forbids appointment of any state decision-maker on pollution discharge permits in federal water quality programs who “has during the previous two years received a significant portion of his income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for a permit” (emphasis added). Vinyard represented himself as director of operations for BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards where he was responsible for its wastewater permits and other regulatory affairs. He also chaired the Shipbuilders Council of America, representing 40 companies operating 100 shipyards.
“Secretary Vinyard should stop wasting state resources playing peek-a-boo with the EPA. His ploy that he is not in clear violation of federal law because he lied on his job application is just plain absurd,” stated Florida PEER Director Jerry Phillips, a former DEP enforcement attorney, noting that Governor Scott should fire him if he falsified his application. “By using state lawyers to dissemble on his behalf, Mr. Vinyard is only making a bad situation worse.”
The next move may aggravate the jeopardy for Secretary Vineyard, as making false official statements to a federal agency is a crime which could result in loss of office and imprisonment, sanctions far more serious than those he now faces. Unfortunately, EPA has not moved swiftly to resolve the February 2011 complaint, despite one promise last November to render a final decision “within two weeks.”
“Mr. Vinyard is making decisions that affect our waters every day, and most if not all of his decisions over the past 15 months have reflected a pro-polluter bias,” said Linda Young, Director of the Florida Clean Water Network. “As a regular user of our waters I am personally so unimpressed with our state and federal government’s level of concern over Vinyard’s disregard for the law that I think a citizens’ arrest is now in order.”
###
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Stakeholders Named to North FL Regional Water Supply Partnership
Stakeholder representatives on north Florida water supply issues named
PALATKA, Fla., May 9, 2012 -- Twelve representatives were named today to the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership's stakeholder committee, an advisory body that will share viewpoints of stakeholder groups with the St. Johns River and Suwannee River water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help address the region's water supply issues.
Chosen to represent the groups, organizations and entities that have an interest in the region's water supply, committee members are:
PALATKA, Fla., May 9, 2012 -- Twelve representatives were named today to the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership's stakeholder committee, an advisory body that will share viewpoints of stakeholder groups with the St. Johns River and Suwannee River water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help address the region's water supply issues.
Chosen to represent the groups, organizations and entities that have an interest in the region's water supply, committee members are:
- Public water supply: Ray O. Avery, Clay County Utility Authority; David Clanton, City of Lake City Utilities
- Commercial/power generation: Athena T. Mann, JEA; James Cornett, Cornett's Spirit of the Suwannee Inc.
- Industrial/mining: J. Michael O'Berry, Vulcan Materials Co.; Stan Posey, PCS Phosphate
- Agriculture: Kerry Kates, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; Thomas Harper, Harper Farms
- Environmental: Patrick T. Welsh, University of North Florida and Save Our Lakes; Jacqui Sulek, Audubon Florida
- Local government: Keystone Heights Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth; Dixie County Commissioner Gene Higginbotham
Action Items from 5/3 Clay-Putnam MFLs Work Group Meeting
The information below is provided as follow-up to three
action items from last week’s Clay-Putnam MFLs Prevention/Recovery Technical
Work Group meeting.
Thank you all for your continued interest and participation.
· Preliminary Augmentation Technical Analyses: The
two analyses mentioned are posted on the SJRWMD FTP site ftp://ftp.sjrwmd.com/wsm/MFLs/PRStrategies/ClayPutnam/AugmentationSubcomm/AugSubcomm_032012/.
See “Lake Augmentation Concepts…” for the analysis conducted by CH2MHill &
“SJRWMDAssessment” folder for the analysis conducted by the District.
· Conservation Subcommittee Statistics: See ftp://ftp.sjrwmd.com/wsm/MFLs/PRStrategies/ClayPutnam/ConservationSubcomm/MarchMeetingInfo/.
The “KeystoneDSSConservation…” file (posted in PDF
& ppt) is the basis of the statistics discussed by the Conservation
Subcommittee. This document summarizes application of the SJRWMD Residential
Conservation Tool we discussed during our October Work Group meeting (http://floridaswater.com/minimumflowsandlevels/pdfs/PRSD/2011_10-25_meeting/presentation-residential-agirrig.pdf).
· North Florida Groundwater Model Domain: see
model domain 1 on the attached graphic. Withdrawals within this geographic area
were part of the “pumps-off” groundwater modeling scenario we discussed last
week.
If the FTP site asks you for a password, click the “guest”
radio button, type in “anonymous” for the user name, and use your email address
as the password.
Thank you all for your continued interest and participation.
Sincerely,
Jennifer GihringMay 22 Meeting for LAWA
We are planning a meeting of the Lake Area Water Alliance
for Tuesday, May 22nd,
6:30PM at the KH Woman’s Club. If you cannot come please send at
least one representative from your organization. We should have a lot of
information to share as there will be reports from our Lake Recovery
Stakeholders, Mayor Hildreth about FLOW meetings and possibly a report from Joyce
King about the Audubon meeting they have planned with JEA.
To be effective, we need input from all of our
organizations to move forward in our unified effort to replenish our aquifer
and restore our lakes. Also, I would also like to suggest that we discuss
coordinating a clean up day of Lake Geneva with the City of KH. It would
be fantastic if all of our organizations get on board with this. While it is at
a historic low would be an excellent time to clean up the garbage, and
this would be a great opportunity to bring attention to our efforts as an
organization, conservation initiatives, etc.
Sincerely,
Jackie Host, President
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